Touch Adjustable Register

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an air register utilizing gross motor movement to control air flow. The register has an outer frame with an inner grate body capable of moving relative to said outer frame, which then serves as the switch for the register. The inner grate body is capable of interfacing with means in the outer frame that then turn at least one louvers so as to control air flow.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a non-provisional application of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/028,114, filed Feb. 12, 2008 and incorporates this application in its entirety herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of environmental control systems and more particularly relates to a register for heating and cooling systems that actuates when acted upon by gross motor movements, particularly pressure imparting touch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The introduction of forced air into an environment is a common method of heating or cooling that environment. The principle is simple, air is heated or cooled by an environmental control device, as examples a furnace for heat or an air conditioner for cooling, and that treated air is forced through ducts into an environment. In order to cover the ducts so as to prevent accidental access and direct air flow, registers are used. Registers are in their simplest form duct covers with grates fashioned in them so that air may pass through the register. Typically, a register will have one or more louvers that are adjustable by a user so as to further control air flow into the environment. Typically these louvers are adjusted by a wheel, dial, or may be directly adjusted by manipulating a tab that protrudes from the louvers through the register. Adjustment of the louvers provides the ability to adjust air flow or totally close off the register, and thus the local environment, from the treated air and, depending on the register's construction, can provide some directional control of the air flow.

However, the use of a wheel, dial, or tab to adjust louvers has its problems. The most persistent of these problems is the requirement of fine motor movement to operate these constructions. Specifically, a user must operate the adjustment mechanism by a specific action toward the mechanism, i.e. turning the dial, which requires fine finger motion. Depending upon the situation, this motion could be inordinately difficult. Registers are usually placed on or near the floor or near or in the ceiling of a room, sometimes in awkward places, and sometimes users will place obstacles, like furniture, in the way of a register. Users may be of any shape, size or medical condition, including the arthritic or shorter in stature. The user's ability coupled with the location and placement of the register can make adjustment of these prior art registers an arduous task. The present invention utilizes gross motor movement to reduce these difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of air registers, this invention provides an improved air register. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved air register that is actuated by gross motor movement rather than fine motor movement.

To accomplish these objectives, the air register comprises an outer frame, a spring biased inner grate body, and at least one louver capable of being mechanically rotated by action on the inner grate body. In the disclosed embodiments, the at least one louver is mounted upon a spoked wheel which is turned by a prong interacting with the spokes as the inner grate body is depressed, thereby turning the spoked wheel and the associated at least one louver.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and about to be actuated by a user

FIG. 1 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and being actuated by a user

FIG. 2 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 2, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and after being actuated by a user

FIG. 3 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 3, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and about to be actuated by a user

FIG. 4 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 4, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and being actuated by a user

FIG. 5 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 5, taken along line A-A.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a register according to the present invention, installed and after being actuated by a user

FIG. 6 a is a sectional view of the register of FIG. 6, taken along line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the air register is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

With reference to FIG. 1, one of the preferred embodiments comprises an outer frame 20 and an inner grate body 30 capable of sliding motion within and relative to the outer frame 20. A user 10 merely presses the inner grate body 20 (FIG. 2) and releases the pressure (FIG. 3) to actuate the register. With this particular embodiment, the actuation motion is a straight push against the center of the inner grate body 30. The register is merely inserted over a duct in a hole in the wall, floor or ceiling and secured as any other register would be, with the outer frame 20 providing the external mounting support.

The actual register mechanism is depicted in FIGS. 1 a, 2 a, and 3 a. Spoked wheels 40 are mounted along the short walls of outer frame 20. On each spoked wheel 40 are mounted two louvers 42, opposite each other. Springs 24 reside on ledges 22 inside the outer frame and support inner grate body 30. Retention means, such as a tongue-in-groove interface or a rail interface are employed to keep inner grate body 30 stabilized in the outer frame 20. Two carefully positioned prongs 32 extend downward from the inner grate body 32 so as to interface with spokes 44 on the spoked wheels 40 when the inner grate body 30 is pushed downward. With downward action (FIG. 2 a), inner grate body 20 compresses springs 24 and prongs catch the prime positioned spoke 44 a and push it down, rotating the wheels 40 and the associated louvers 42. This action also places the secondary spoke 44 b proximate the prongs 32. Spoke 44 placement will be determinative of possible angles of adjustment for the louvers 42. As shown in these drawings, the louvers 42 will rotate between two sets of being closed, half-open, fully open and half-open again (corresponding to eight spokes 44). When pressure is removed (FIG. 3 a), the springs 24 will return the inner grate body 30 to its default position and the prongs 32 will be removed from the spokes 44. Wheels 40 will rotate slightly so as to position the former secondary spoke 44 b into primary position. Louvers 42 will then have moved from one position to another and the process may be repeated as the louvers 42 complete a circuit around the wheels 40. It is important that there be some clearance between louvers 42 in the closed position as any overlap will prevent rotation.

As many wheels 40, spokes 44, and louvers 42 may be utilized as a manufacturer desires, however the more wheels 40, spokes 44 and louvers 42, the more complicated the structure will be, with associated costs involved. The inventors feel that eight spokes 44 and two louvers 42 mounted upon each of two wheels 40 represents a good balance between the number of louver positions and complexity.

A second embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 4-6 a. In this embodiment, inner grate body 60 rotates within outer frame 50, being hinged on one side. The user 10 pushes the inner grate body on a side opposite the hinge to impart torque on the inner grate body 60. A spring 64 provides return bias for the inner grate body 60. Prong 62 interfaces with spokes 78 on wheel 76, specifically spoke 78 a. It should be noted that prong 62 is curved into a hook shape so as to better interface with spokes 78. The spokes 78 on wheel 76 are also hinged so as to move out of the way of prong 62 when it pushes down against the primary spoke 78 a (note secondary spoke 78 b is collapsed in FIG. 5 a). As wheel 76 turns, it pulls belt 74 which in turn rotates wheel 70, thereby allowing both sets of louvers 72 to turn.

In either embodiment, a gross motor movement is involved to actuate the louvers. This allows users to actuate the registers with a simple touch or by using an object, such as a broom handle, to actuate the registers. In so doing, proximity problems are dramatically reduced, as are problems related to the dexterity of the user. Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. 

1. An air register comprising: a. an outer frame; b. an inner body residing within the frame but capable of movement relative to the outer frame; c. means of restoring the inner body to a default position relative the outer frame; d. at least one louver residing within the outer frame and below the inner body; and e. means of communicating movement of the inner body into movement of the at least one louvers; wherein the inner body is a grate that will also allow air passage therethrough.
 2. The air register of claim 1, the means of communicating movement of the inner body further comprising at least one prong, one for each louver, residing on an underside of the inner body and at least one spoked wheel, one for each louver, on an end of a louver, under a prong, all being positioned such that when the inner grate is depressed, the at least one prong will interface with and impart torque upon the at least one spoked wheel by contacting and pushing a spoke on the at least one spoked wheels, thereby turning the at least one louvers.
 3. The air register of claim 1, the inner body being hinged on the outer frame.
 4. The air register of claim 3, the means of communicating movement of the inner body further comprising a prong extending downward from the inner body, a spoked wheel and at least one auxiliary wheel, each wheel operably attached to at least one louver and being mechanically coupled to each other in a manner to allow the spoked wheel to impart torque upon any others, such that when the inner body is depressed, the prong interfaces with the spoked wheel and imparts torque upon it, turning any other wheels and thereby turning the louvers. 